Stefanik suspends campaign for New York governor, won't run for reelection to House
Trump had declined to endorse Stefanik in her bid for governor.
Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik, a top ally to President Donald Trump, announced Friday afternoon that she would suspend her campaign for governor of New York, and also not run for reelection to the U.S. House of Representatives, just months after she launched a bid to try to flip the governorship currently held by Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul.
"I am truly humbled and grateful for the historic and overwhelming support from Republicans, Conservatives, Independents, and Democrats all across the state for our campaign to Save New York," Stefanik wrote in a post on X.
"However, as we have seen in past elections, while we would have overwhelmingly won this primary, it is not an effective use of our time or your generous resources to spend the first half of next year in an unnecessary and protracted Republican primary, especially in a challenging state like New York."
She also cited wanting to spend more time with her son.
Since launching her bid for governor in November, Stefanik had consolidated support from many of New York's local Republican county parties behind her, but she faced a primary opponent in Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, who announced his own bid.
Trump, whom Stefanik has supported, had declined to endorse either candidate thus far, calling both Stefanik and Blakeman "fantastic."
"First of all, he's a friend. She's a friend. These are two great people running in a way I hate to see them I'm running against each other,” Trump said earlier this month.
Stefanik was first elected to represent New York in the House in 2014, and was at the time the youngest woman to ever win a seat in Congress. She became a rising star in the GOP and joined House leadership in 2021 as chair of the House Republican Conference.
Trump tapped her to be his U.S. ambassador to the United Nations shortly after his election victory in November 2024, praising her in a statement to ABC News as "an incredibly strong, tough, and smart America First fighter."
But months later, Trump said he was asking her to withdraw her nomination, citing razor-thin margins in the Republican-controlled House. Stefanik said she was "proud to be a team player" and step aside.
Trump and White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt reacted to Stefanik’s announcement.
“Elise is a tremendous talent, regardless of what she does. She will have GREAT success, and I am with her all the way!” Trump posted on his social media platform Friday.
Leavitt, who served as Stefanik’s communications director following Trump’s 2020 election loss, called Stefanik an "incredible advocate" and a "true friend to President Trump."
"Elise Stefanik has been an incredible advocate for the people of her district in Upstate New York, and she will always be a true friend to President Trump. On a personal note, Elise is my former boss. She is a great leader, and an even better person. We love you, @EliseStefanik!" Leavitt posted on X.
ABC News' Lalee Ibssa contributed to this report.